Button-feeding device.



B. DUBI.

BUTTON FEEDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT/2, 191s.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917 2SHEETSSHEET 1.

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B. DUBl/ BUTTON FEEDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. I916- Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

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BORIS DUBI, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A SSI GNOB TO RAPID BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE C0,, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUTTON-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Application filed September 2, 1916. Serial No. 118,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonrs DUBI, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of the city of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button-Feeding Devices, of which the fol:

lowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a button feeding device which may be used for any suitable purpose, and particularly upon the type of machine shown in K0t-' kovsky Patent No. 1,182,019, granted May 9th, 1916. A. further object is to provide means for feeding a button directly into the machine withoutregard to the hopper so that buttons of a diiferent nature from those in the hopper may be fed to the machine when desired, so that different buttons may be put on special jobs, as occasion may require without the necessity of emptying the hopper and refilling the same with the type of button to be applied to the job. These and other objects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism for elevating the feeding device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. I

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of the structure shown in Fig. l, the elevations being taken on the opposite sides of the apparatus and showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the gate.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

My improved button feeding device 1 is mounted on a chute 2 which extends from a hopper or button container of any suitable kind, a portion of such a container guard 4, near its, upper end, has a pivoted trap 5 which has its fr'ee end normally kept agalnsta pro]ection 6 011 the guard-rail 4 by a su table coiled spring-mounted on its pivot 7 1n the bracket 8,' as indicated, said bracket being. secured to the side of the chute, and the lower end of the trap 5 has a sultableslot 9 which is adapted to receive a shank of a button immediately over the groove l O in the edge 3 of the chute 2, so that when a button of the kind ordinarily used 1n the machine, as an ordinary shoe button, s placed with its lower edge against the pro ection 6, and its shank in the slot 9, the trap 5 may be depressed and the button is slid down the chute under the guard 4, as is obvious. v p

The button feeding device l. cooperates with a hinged gate 11 'pivotally mounted between ears 12, see Fig. 6, by the pin 12 at the lower end of the guard 4, and a coil sprlng 13surrounding the pivot pin 12, normally keeps this gate in its depressed positlon so that it rests flat on the lower end of the guard 4 as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The free end of the gate 11 is bent downwardly as indicated and slotted as at 14 through which the feeding device 1 may intrude, as will be described below.

The feeding device 1 is driven from the reciprocatory staple former 15 which may be driven by any suitable mechanism 16, such as is shown in the Kotkovsky patent heretofore mentioned, or'otherwise, as desired. It is suflicient for the purposes of this case to state that the reciprocating staple former 15 is driven in the direction of its length, and both ways, by the mechanism 16, as is apparent. This reciprocating staple former 15 is recessed at 17with a sufficiently long recess to enable a period of dwell to occur'be tween the ends of the reciprocating move ment, so that the button feeding device 1 will operate at the right time and not otherwise. An arm 18, pivoted at 19 adjacent its center on the chute 2, has its lower end entering the recess 17 and is actuated by the end walls thereof, as above indicated. The pivot 19 carries a corresponding arm 20, see Fig. 1, on the other side of the chute 2, and the arms 18 and 20 are connected at their upper ends by a pivot 21, see Fig. 7, on which is mounted a curved and pivoted finger 22. A coil spring 23 surrounds the pin 21 and has one of its ends pressing against the finger 22, and its other end bears against a pin 24 fixed in the arm so that the finger 22 is normally kept depressed. The lower end of the finger 22 is bifurcated so as to enter into the slots 1-1- in the end of the gate 11, and the lower end of said finger 22 is curved as shown at 25 so as to fit the top of a button and move the same forward when the finger is actuated. The lower end of the guard 4e slotted to register with the slots i l to permit the lower end 25 of the finger 22 to engage the button 26 through the slots and move the same out from under the guard t as hereafter mentioned.

The upper surface of the finger 22 is provided with 2. lug 27 which is adapted to engage a lever 28 which is connected to the mechanism, for feeding the wire which attaches the buttons, not shown, so that when no button is in place, no wire will be fed, as set forth in the Kotkovsky patent heretofore mentioned. It is obvious that this lever 28 is elevated by the lug 27 and swings on its pivot 29, but will not swing sufficiently to cause the wire feeding device to be actuated unless a button 26 is in place and ready to be attached.

To cause the finger 22 to be raised on its return movement so as not to interfere with anybutton which may be at the bottom of the chute 2, and in front of the gate 11, the following mechanism is employed. Mounted on top of the guard 4t is a suitable stop and cam 30, which is secured to the guard in any desired manner, as by an upwardly turned ear 31 and screws 32, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Extending laterally from this stop and near the lower end thereof, is a suitable cam pin 33, the purpose of which will appear below. The lower surface of the finger 22, near the cam pin 33, carries a suitable bearing 3%, see Fig. 2, in which is mounted the cam roller which is free to turn in the bearing 3t and adapted to run over the cam surface 36 of the stop 30, except when eleva ed therefrom by an elevating arm 37 which is made with a socket 38 at its free end to engage the pin 33 and ride thereover and turn thereon so as to elevate the finger 22. The other end of the arm 37 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 38 which is mounted in the ears 39, which are secured at 4:0 to the bearings 34L. Suitable coil springs ll and a2 tend to keep the arm 37 in the elevated position shown in rig. 2, and allow this arm to be brought closer to the cam roller 35 on the forward movement of the arm 22. On the rearward movement this arm 37 engages the pin 33 and lifts the finger 22 upwardly so that the end 25 of finger is clear of the button 26 which it has moved forward and takes its proper position so as to be ready to move the next button when again actuated, as above set forth.

In view of the foregoing, the operation of my improved device will be readily understood. If it is desired to attach a different type of button than those in place in the chute, the chute can be emptied by moving the buttons that are in it downwardly and .out under the gate 11 which is allowed to rise for that purpose, until the chute is emptied. Then the button feeding device is disconnected at or near the hopper, not shown, so as to render the hopper inoperative and then the buttons to be attached are placed, as above described on the rap 5 and inserted into the chute under the guard l. When it is desired to feed the buttons to the attaching mechanism they are fed by the finger 22 which engages their upper surfaces vand forces them out under the gate 11, as

above described and into place, and then the lug 27 raises the lever 28 so as to permit wire to be fed through the eye of the button in the manner set forth in the Kotkovsky patent. Thereafter the buttons are stapled to the shoe or other article in the usual way. 0n the rearward movement of the reciprocating staple former 15 the finger 22 isactuated so as to move the button engaged by it, forward, so as to be ready for the next operation of the attaching apparatus, and on the forward movement of this staple form: ing mechanism 15 the arm 18 is thrown with its lower end going forward and its upper end toward the rear, as shown in Fig. 4, and this brings the finger 22 toward the rear until the arm 37, which is connected therewith, as heretofore mentioned, strikes the pin and then the finger 22 is-elevated so as to clear the button it has moved forward and it assumes its proper position and is ready for the next action of the apparatus. Except when the finger 37 is active and lifting the finger 22, as above described, the spring 23 holds the cam roller 35 against the cam su face 38, which determines the direction or movement of the finger 22 with regard to the button 26.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that it is not restricted thereto but is broad enough to cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a button container, a chute leading therefrom, a cover mounted above said chute, and a hinged trap in said cover intermediate its ends, to permit buttons to be placed in the chute independently of the container, said trap having a slotted free end and a spring on its hinge.

2. In a machine of the class described, a button chute with a cover thereon, and a trap pivotally mounted in the cover and slotted in its lower end so as to permit a button to be placed true in the chute.

3. In a machine of the class described, a button chute, a button feeding device adapted to engage a button in said chute, means for causing said device to force a button positively in the direction of movement and hold the same, an arm on said button-moving means, a roller on said means, and means for engaging said roller and arm to elevate the button-moving means and hold the same clear of the button on its return movement.

4. In a machine of the class described, a button chute having a gate at its lower end, said gate being provided with slots in its end, a finger adapted to enter said slots and means for shifting said finger so as to force a button under said gate and a pivoted arm on said finger adapted to raise said finger on its return movement.

5. In a machine of the class described, a button chute with a cover, a cam on said cover with a pin projecting therefrom, a finger adapted to shift buttons and a pivoted arm mounted on said finger and adapted to engage said pin and raise said finger on its return movement, but not otherwise.

6. In a machine of the class described, a button chute, a hinged gate adjacent the lower end of said chute, a pivoted arm and means for actuating the same, a finger pivoted on said arm and actuated thereby for moving a button, a spring pressed pivoted arm on said finger and means for engaging said arm to cause the finger to lift and free itself from the button on its rearward movement.

7. In a machine of the class described, a button chute, an arm pivoted to one side of said chute, mechanism engaging the lower end of said arm and actuating the same, a finger pivoted to the upper end of said arm, the free end of which is adapted to engage a button in the chute and move the same forward, a spring pressed pivoted arm on said finger and means for engaging said arm and causing the same to lift the finger on its rearward movement.

8. In a machine of the class described, a button chute, a guard mounted above said chute, a hinged gate secured on the lower end of the guard, a spring for normally holding said gate in position to close the end of the chute, a pivoted arm secured to the side of the chute and mechanism for actuating the same, a finger pivoted to the upper end of said arm and adapted to be reciprobutton chute, a guard on said chute, a hinged gate secured to the lower end of said chute, said gate having slots in its end, a reciprocating finger having a bifurcated free end adapted to pass through the slots in the gate and move a button from under said gate, a stop and cam on the guard, a pivoted arm on the finger, and a roller on said finger, said arm and roller adapted to engage the stop and cam on the rearward movement of the finger whereby said finger is lifted out of engagement with buttons in the chute.

10. In a machine of the class described, a button chute, a guard secured above said chute, a hinged gate secured to the lower end of said guard, a pivoted arm secured to the side of the chute, mechanism for engaging the lower end of said arm and actuating the same, a finger pivoted to the upper end of said arm, the free end of said finger being bifurcated to engage a button through slots in the hinged gate, a bearing on said finger, with a roller mounted therein, a cam on the guard engaged by said roller on the rearward movement of the finger, a pivoted arm on the finger, and a stop on the guard engaging said arm on the rearward movement of the finger and lifting said finger free of the buttons in the chute on said rearward movement.

11. In a machine of the class described, a button container, a button chute leading therefrom, a cover mounted above said chute, a trap mounted in said cover adjacent the container, a slotted, hinged gate mounted on the cover adjacent the lower end of the chute, means mounted between the trap and hinged gate and above the chute for engag ing a button in the chute and forcing the same under the gate, an arm on said means, a roller on said means, and means on the cover for engaging said arm and roller and elevating said button moving means on its return movement.

Signed at the city of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, this 29th day of August, 1916.

BORIS DUBI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

